The Diamondbacks added a power hitter in Mark Trumbo, a bullpen arm in Addison Reed and an innings-eater in Bronson Arroyo, but the question of whether they’ll return to the top of the National League West might have more to do with the players they already had on their roster.

The team the Diamondbacks thought they had never really showed up in 2013. At times, it was due to injury, like the broken hand that cost Aaron Hill close to half the season. Other times, the players the Diamondbacks were counting on just didn’t perform up to expectations.

Maybe the Diamondbacks can be healthier. Maybe they can perform more in line with expectations. And maybe the players who excelled in 2013 — think Paul Goldschmidt and Patrick Corbin — can do so again. If those things happen, it’s not hard to see the off-season additions being enough to finally tip the Diamondbacks past the .500 mark that has frustrated them each of the past two years.

“You try and learn from your successes, your mistakes, your failures, your relationships,” Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. “I scour constantly to try and be better and wonder how I can be better and how I can make the team better. We’re in ‘go mode’ right now. We’ve all learned a lot of life lessons along the way and we’ll apply those in a good, positive way.”

The Diamondbacks have some things going for them, starting with Goldschmidt, who won a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger and was runner-up in the MVP race. Right fielder Gerardo Parra also won a Gold Glove, and the Diamondbacks’ defense again figures to be a strength.

The lineup also has a chance to be dangerous throughout. Every projected starter except for one — whoever plays shortstop — has posted a league-average OPS (on base plus slugging) at some point in his career, and many of them did so just last season. Catcher Miguel Montero, however, was far below average in 2013, hitting just .230 in what was his worst season since becoming an everyday player.

He’s probably the prime example of a player in need of a bounce-back. Reliever David Hernandez is another, and right-handers Brandon McCarthy and Trevor Cahill qualify, as well.

“We know what our strengths were and what our weaknesses are,” Gibson said, “and we’re going to try to do a better job in the areas that we were weak and continue to do things we did well.”

Aside from Hill, the club also lost outfielder Adam Eaton (subsequently dealt in the Trumbo deal) for the first half of the season to an elbow injury, and McCarthy, Cahill, reliever J.J. Putz and outfielder Cody Ross also spent significant time on the disabled list.

“It really tested our depth,” General Manager Kevin Towers said.

“It happens with a lot of ballclubs. Every club is going to have injuries during the year. The more you can keep your core guys out there, I think the better chance you’ll have of being competitive at the end of the season.”

Arroyo’s signing also gives the club the option to tread lightly with prospect Archie Bradley, who seems likely to get his feet wet in the minors before a possible big-league promotion rather than competing for a job in spring training. But Bradley, one of the top prospects in baseball, seems all but assured of cracking the majors at some point this season.

D-Backs Down Under

What: The Diamondbacks will open the 2014 regular season with a two-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Sydney, Australia.

When: March 22-23. Arizona and Australia are 18 hours apart. The first game will start at 1 a.m. Arizona time March 22 (7 p.m. in Australia). The second game is set for 7 p.m. Arizona time also on March 22, which is 1 p.m. on March 23 in Australia.

Where: Sydney Cricket Ground.

This will mark the seventh time baseball has opened the season outside the United States, having opened in Monterrey, Mexico (1999), Tokyo, Japan (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012) and San Juan, Puerto Rico (2001).

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